Trying Something New

For a while now I've been doing my scrap booking on the computer. It's a million times faster and I really like it--what's even better is I just figured out how to post my pages as images on my blog. I'm going to give it a whirl and see how it goes. The page I'm including in this post is of my birthday (yesterday). Apparently, face book has some sort of feature that reminds people of your birthday (either that, or a ton of people just have excellent memories and are extremely thoughtful) and I got a bunch of sweet birthday wishes. So, thanks to everyone who called/wrote/sent cards, I had a delicious day and feel loved by and grateful for all my dear family and friends.

Something Happens

I can't quite describe what it is, but it has happened all three times with the birth of our boys. I'm sure most of you moms out there know the feeling of not being sure you have enough room in your heart to love another kid and then BAM! The sweet thing is born and put in your arms and sure enough, your heart expands (or something like that) and you couldn't love a creature any more if you tried. Well, I guess it's along those same heart-expanding lines what happens with the way I feel for my Jesse. There's something about that magical time we get to share together in anticipation of the little one, welcoming the little one, and then the sweet first night, first days, and weeks with the new little one--all these experiences that I get to share with Jesse make me love him more than I though possible. Maybe it's seeing him be a father again, maybe it's all the loving service he provides me, maybe it's sharing the experience of bringing a heavenly being into this world, all I know is--something happens and I love that boy like crazy! So here's a post and some pics of my sweet Jesse. Excuse me for a moment while I brag on my man. :)

Sitting in the delivery room as we were waiting for Noah to come

There have been A LOT of wrestling matches of late

My 'Farm Boy' and little Noah. The first few days while I was recovering Jesse wouldn't let me lift a finger, he told to order him around like my own Farm Boy (from Princess Bride, you know, 'Farm boy, fetch me that pail.')

He's making a funny face because he's doing the animal noises while reading to the boys. Collin and Lucas just loved having their Papi home for two whole weeks. He gave them baths, read to them, wrestled with them, cooked for them, and even took a swimming suit bath with them in our big tub.

N.E.W.

Noah Ellis Williams was born on 7/12 at 12:07 in the afternoon. He came in as our biggest boy (even at 6 days early) weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz. and measuring 21.5 inches. I kept telling Jesse that this guy was going to be our biggest, I could really feel the difference in my comfort level--my ribs might not ever be the same.

We barely decided on his name the night before we went in for induction. Collin had been adamant about 'it' being Noah and as that was our first choice way back when, we went with it. The middle name is after my Grandpa who is one of my dearest friends and most favorite people ever, Howard Ellis Lunt. I hope little Noah grows up to be as hard working, sharp witted, generous, loving, honest, and wonderful as was my Pa.

The name Noah means peaceful/restful and we feel now that our little guy has been named appropriately. Jesse and I were talking over our experience and were amazed at how calm and peaceful the delivery was. It was incredible. Noah was by far the quietest and calmest of our three boys and has brought into our home an almost tangible feeling of sweet peace. We are all just bubbling over with love and excitement to have him with us.

I feel like I could go on and on, I really want to document all the details of labor, delivery, first visit from Collin and Lucas, our first night, the visits and gifts, my angel mother-in-law's help, and the list goes on, but I think I'll save all that for a journal entry and just say here that our experience was beyond wonderful and we feel so incredibly blessed and grateful. Now here are some pictures:

Before we left for the hospital--this is one of only two pics we took showing my pregnant belly.

Jesse's mom came to be our maid/servant/babysitter/cook/nursery maid for three and a half glorious days, we loved having her here and had a hard time watching her drive away. My mom will come next week and we feel so spoiled to have TWO moms caring for us and our little family.

A Post and a Pic So You Know We're Still Alive

Howdy folks, sorry about the long time with no news. I seem to have a big lapse this time of year with our anniversary trip and all the birthdays--at least I guess that's my excuse. Anyway, we are all still alive and kickin', including baby #3 (no name yet) and he's not due for another month, so stay tuned for that news, too. We've been really busy 'round these parts and so that makes for lots to report, but little time in which to do it. But for now, here's a few pics from our little train ride last month. We promised Collin a ride on the train if he stayed in Primary all by himself, and that was all it took (that and a few jellybeans in his pocket). He originally made the transition to Primary from Nursery smoothly because I was the chorister in Primary and he could see me sitting right up in front of the room. It wasn't an ideal change for him--I mean, trading snacks, bubbles, and play dough for being in the same room with your mom while she sings like an idiot, not the best, but he did alright. But about a month and a half ago I was released and called as YW Secretary and that was not cool with Collin, but we're over that now and on to other issues.

This is the fam on the New Mexico Rail Runner, they just finished doing the track from Albuquerque to Santa Fe about a year ago (maybe less). We packed a lunch and rode to Santa Fe, played in a park and then rode home, no biggie--unless you're 3 years old and a train FREAK! Collin loved it and of course Jesse and I loved it because Collin was enjoying himself so much. It was $8 and a Saturday morning well spent.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

This past Christmas one of my gifts from Jesse was that he enrolled us both in Ballroom dance class--pretty much one of the best gifts I've ever received. So every Wednesday from Jan 21st to Mar 11th Jesse and I have had a 'Merry Christmas'. It worked out well with babysitting because Sunni took a cake decorating class on Thursday nights so we just swapped kids once a week. In our class we rotated partners so Jesse and I didn't get to dance together all the time, but I enjoyed watching him from across the room as he danced with his different partners. When it was our turn to dance together we acted like we were meeting for the first time...so much fun. I came to enjoy a lot of the fellas that I danced with (mostly the cute old men who reminded me of my grandpa). I'm actually going to miss some of them. I definitely won't miss Mr. Count Out Loud In My Ear or Mr. Bad Breath, that guy almost made me gag--I seriously would have vomited if I were still in my 1st trimester/puke-y stage. Anyway, enough of that--it was a TON of fun and now we are no longer just beginners in Cha-Cha, Fox Trot, and Tripple-Step.

These Pics Deserve a Post All Their Own

I was going to include these with the November post but I decided they needed their own space. I love shirt-less little boys like I love a baby in a diaper. There is nothing much cuter than a pot-belly over the lip of some jeans (I'm strictly talking about toddlers here, not anything older than 5, and definetly not refering to any adult pot-bellies). Whenever Lucas gets his shirt taken off because of a spill or something, Collin has to go "belly" (that's what he calls it) like his bro.

It sort of freaks me out how big Collin looks in this bottom pic., he does NOT look like a 3 year old. Yikes!

Ultrasound Results are In!

Just a quick post to let everyone know (most of you know already) that we are having ANOTHER BOY! He looked totally normal in the ultrasound--hands and feet and lip and nose...all that good stuff. We feel so very blessed that things look good and we're getting excited to meet this little guy. It's funny how it is when you find out you're pregnant (at least for me). At first I get to wondering whether it's a boy or a girl and I actually can't figure out in my mind if I'd rather it be one or the other. But when the moment comes and we find out it is a boy, I get the feeling of, "oh yeah, of course...it's you, isn't it?" Don't know how to explain it any other way.

Ahhhhh, three boys, I am so excited (but not for the grocery bill). Some of you may have heard this already about going from two kids to three, but I just heard it this week and thought it was funny. I was talking to a guy about his two kids and when he found out we were expecting our third, he said, "oh yeah, going from 'man-to-man' to 'zone', that ought to be fun." It made me laugh.